let him look

USAGE SUMMARY

"let him look" is a grammatically correct sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to give someone permission to look at something, or to indicate that someone is looking at something. For example: "The curious boy peered through the window, and his mother said, 'Let him look.'".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

She let him look.

The New Yorker

Let him look, I thought.

The New Yorker

Let him look through the window".

The Guardian

" "[Unintelligible.]" "No, not the" "Let him look through the window.

The Guardian

"First, let him look at the night sky, so he'll realize how insignificant he is".

The New Yorker

In the spring, she let him look after her badly neglected garden and repair her house.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

A sympathetic white sailor lets him look through a quadrant.

The Guardian - Books

Mr Walsh has a flat concealed inside the museum (a window in his floor lets him look down on the Nolan gallery).

The Economist

And for Mr. Bush, analysts say, presenting himself as a managerial reformer lets him look less ideological than other Republicans, particularly those in Congress.

The New York Times

Sweden doesn't need a parricide, it needs a peer — someone whose cinematic art lets him look at, and appreciate, Bergman as an equal, not as an oppressor.

The New Yorker

"My son said 'Papa, Papa, I want to look too.' He's got to wear glasses now and I feel like it's my fault for letting him look," Chernyavskiy said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When crafting formal content, consider alternatives like "allow him to see" or "permit him to view" for a more professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "let him look" when the context implies a lack of permission or potential consequences. Instead, clarify the situation or use a more cautious phrasing.

Linguistic Context

"Let him look" primarily functions as an imperative phrase, giving permission or allowance for someone to visually observe something. As Ludwig AI points out, it follows standard grammar rules. Examples show its direct and permissive nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "let him look" is a grammatically correct and commonly used imperative phrase to grant permission or acknowledge observation, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is versatile enough for both informal and neutral contexts, although more formal settings may benefit from alternatives like "allow him to see". Its primary function is to permit visual access, and writers should be mindful of implied permissions and consequences in their writing. Key authoritative sources using this phrase include The New Yorker and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allow him to see

Formal alternative focusing on granting permission for visual access.

permit him to view

More formal and emphasizes the act of viewing.

don't stop him from looking

Expresses allowance in a negative form.

give him leave to gaze

Emphasizes a longer, more appreciative look.

authorize his viewing

Formal, highlighting the authorization to view something.

let him have a peek

Informal alternative suggesting a quick look.

grant him sight

A more poetic and metaphorical granting of vision or access.

he is allowed to see

Passive voice expressing permission.

enable his observation

Focuses on enabling the act of observing.

he can observe

States the possibility of observation rather than giving permission.

FAQs

How can I use "let him look" in a sentence?

Use "let him look" to give someone permission to see something, as in, "The child wanted to see the stars, so I said, "Let him look.""

What are some alternatives to "let him look"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "allow him to see", "permit him to view", or "give him leave to gaze".

Is "let him look" formal or informal?

"Let him look" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both informal and some formal contexts. For highly formal situations, consider "allow him to see".

What's the difference between "let him look" and "make him look"?

"Let him look" grants permission or allows observation, while "make him look" implies forcing someone to look against their will. The meanings are very different.